Steering mechanism for traction-engines.



H. A. WATERMAN, L. G. BRADLEY 65 WJKLANDREW. STEERING MECHANISM FOR TRACTION ENGINES.

AYPLIUATION FILED AUG. 17, 1910. 1,Q@1,181. Patentefi Aug.22,1911.

3 SHEE'Lr-SHEBT 1.

mdLUrLLLr; ndrew I 32 'rnqq H. A. WA-TEEMAN, L. G. BRADLEY & W. K. ANDREW. STEERING MECHANISM FOR TRACTION ENGINES.

I APPLICATIOE FILED AUG. l7, 1910. 3391,13 1 I Patented Aug.22,1911.

3 SHEETfi-SHEET 2.

H.- A. WATERMAN, L. G. BRADLEY 8; W. K. ANDREW. STEERING MEGHANISM FOR TRACTION ENGINES. APPLIGA'I'ION FILED AUG.17, 1910.

1,001,181, I PatentedA11g222,1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

25 of the traction wheels removed and having n-EnRYi' A;-wArEnMAN,- nirronnc. assume, Ann w nnriiivr x. iinnnnw,

WAUKEE,1:JWISCONSIN,ASSJIGIQORS "no. INTERNATIONAL inanvusrna. courn vtr, A

pirconrona'rrou OF-NEW JERSE.-

f i, Eon attem t-smug;

Speoifleationbf Letters Patent. v Patented Aug, 22, 15911.

Application filed August 17, 1910. Serial No. 577,633.

,vented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering Mechanism for Traction- Engines, of which the following is a specification.

, Our invention relates to traction engines,

' and in particular to means whereby the wheels supporting the forward end of the truck frame may be adjusted angularly relative to said frame in a manner to determine the direction of travel of the machine;

the object of our invention being to provide' a mechanism strong and durable in construction and easily and readily manipulated fo'rthe purpose required. We attain these objects by means of the "mechanism illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in Wh1Cl1- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a traction engine with one of the supporting and one our invention forming a part thereof; Fig.

;2 represents a top plan view of a truck frame mounted uponsteering and traction wheels and showing thefriction-and steering mechanism and the power transmitting means Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of the i i truck frame and part of the steering mechanism; Fig. 4: is'a sectional elevation of part of the steering mechanism; Fig. 5 is a de- 1 tail of the yielding connection between the wheel supporting cranks and the steering 'gearmechanism; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the front axle member; and Fig. 7 is a 4,45 ,gear frame members 2, 1n which 1s ]0111 naled a rotatable axle 3, upon which are detail of part of the'..;steering mechanism.

The same. reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views.

. The truck arranged members 1 upon opposite sides thereof, having secured to their rear ends mounted traction wheels at and a countershaft 5,liavingfa gear wheel fi'secured' to oneie'nd thereof and a pinion 7 to its oppoalarm pinion meshing with'afgear frame includes longitudinally wheel 8 upon the axle, and the gear wheel 6 with a driving pinion 9, deriving motion from an engine shaft 10 forming part of an exploslve engine 11 mounted upon the truck frame.

-12 represents supplemental truck frame members secured to members 2 and extending' in rear thereof, are connected at their rear ends by means of a transverse bar 13, and 14 represents an operators platform, having its forward end pivotally connected with frame members 12 and having its rear end yieldingly supported by means of springs 15 and rods 16 connecting it with the transverse bar 13. I

The forward ends of frame members I approach each other and are connected by means of a cross tie 17 having a draft link 18 pivotally connected therewith intermediate its ends. 19 represents "depending triangular brackets secured to the lower sides offrame members 1 at their forward ends, and 20 represents transversely arranged bars secured to the lower ends of the triangular members and spaced apart in a manner to receive between them an axle member 26.

Front wheels 21 are 'journaled upon spindles 22 that are secured to vertically arranged brackets 23 that are adapted to turn upon vertically arranged pivot pins 21 connecting them with the forked ends 25 of axle member 26, and 27 represents rearwardly extending arms integral with the vertical brackets, the rear ends of the arms being pivotally connected with opposite ends of a steering bar 28 by means of vertically arranged pins 29.

30 represents a plate 'slidably mounted upon the upper side of'the steering bar by means of slotted openings 31 and bolts 32, and having downwardly extending lip members 33 that engage with the rear edge of the bar in a manner to retain the plate in operative-position.

,34 represents vertical lugs secured to the upper-side of the steering bar adjacent the pivotal connectionvof the arms therewith, and v35compression springs operative between the 'lug'sand opposite. ends of plate 30 ina manner to cushion a sliding movement are I Side 5f axle member 26 and projectingrearward is provided with a vertical. opening that receives a pin 38, and. 39 re presents a correspending bracket secured. to the upper sideof the axle member and provided with an opening that 1% eives the upper end of pin 38, and journaled upon the body of the pin is a combined worm wheel and pinion-40, the pinion meshing with gear segment ll formed upon the front side of the sliding plate 30.

42 represents a short shaft journaled in bearings 43 carried by bracket 39 and arranged at right angles in a fore aft direction relative to axle member 26, and having secured thereto a worm 41 that engages with member l s5 represents a steering shaft arranged longitudinally relative to, the truck frame, having its forward end connected with shaft 42 by means of a universal coupling 4-6,

and its rear end journaled in a bracket 4:7

secured to the transverse bar 13 of the truck frame and having a gear wheel 48 secured thereto that meshes with a pinion 419 secured to the lower end of a shaft 50 part of the bracket, and extending rearward and upward therefrom is provided with ahand wheel 52 whereby steering mechanism may be conveniently manipulated by the operator,

What claim as our invention and deire to secure by Lott-ens Patent, is: a

l. A steel-i g mechanism for traction engines including, in combination, a truck frame, traction wheels supporting the rear end of said truck: frame and. steering wheels supporting its front end, the connections between said steering wheels and said truck frame including transversely arranged bars secured to said truckframe and spaced apart, an axle member received between said bars and pivotally connected therewith intermediate their ends, said axle member having forks at opposite ends thereof, brackets connected with said forks by means of vertically arranged pivot pins, said brackets have,

ing integraltherewith spindles, upon which Spindles are mounted rearwardly extending arms, a transversely arranged steering bar having itsopposite ends pivotally connected with the rear ends or said arms, a plate mountednpcn said steering bar and adapted to move longitudinally thereon, compression springs mount-ed upon said bar and con- LOGLISR tacting with said plate in a manner to resist a movement thereof in either direction, and a longitudinally arranged rotatable steering shaft mounted upon said truck frame and operatively connected with said plate in a manner to cause it to move in either direction.

2. A. steering mechanism for traction engines including, in combination, a truck frame, traction wheels supporting the rear end of saidtruck frame and steering wheels supporting its front end, the connection between said steering-wheels and said truck frame including transversely arranged barssecured' to said truck frame and spaced apart, an axle member, received between said bars and pivotally connected therewith intermediate their ends, said axle member having forks at opposite ends thereof, brackets connected with said forks by means'of vertically arranged pivot pins, said brackets having integral therewith spindles, upon which spindles are mounted rearwardly extending arms, a, transversely arranged steering bar'having itsvopposite ends pivotally connected with the rear endsof said arms, a plate mounted upon said steering bar and adapted to move longitudinally thereon, compression springs mounted upon said bar and contacting with said plate In a manner to resist a movement thereof in either direction, a toothed rack forming part of said plate, a pinion journaled in bearings carried by said axle member and engaging with said rack, a worm operative to rotate said pin 'ion, a longitudinally arranged rotatable steering shaft mounted upon said truck frame, and a universal coupling connecting said shaft with said worm.

A steering mechanism-for traction engins-s including, in combination, a truck frame, traction wheels supporting the rear in) I vertically arranged pivot pins, said braclo ets having integral therewith spindles, upon which spindles are mounted rearwardly ex-- tending arms, a transversely arranged steering bar having its opposite ends pivotally connected with the rear ends of said arms, a plate mounted upon said steering bar and adapted to move longitudinally thereon, compression springs mounted upon said bar and cont-acting with said plate in a manner to resist a movement thereof in either direction, a segmentaltoothed rack forming part of said plate, brackets secured to the upper versal coupling connecting said shaft with and lower sides of said axle member, a comsaid Worm shaft.- bined pinion and worm Wheel journaled HENRY A. "WATERMAN.

upon a vertical pin supported by said brack- LYFORD O. BRADLEY. ets, a worm arranged upon a longitudinal WILLIAMIL ANDREW. shaft journaled in said brackets, 21 longitu r W'itnesses:

dinally arranged rotatalfle steering shaft I.A.1\/.[}INTYRE,

mounted upon said truck frame, and a uni- G. D. VVIEDEMANN. 

